Stabilization of 1,1,1-trichloroethane



United States Patent STABILIZATION OF 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE Wesley L. Archer, Midland, and Elbert L. Simpson, Auburn, Mich., and George Richard Graybill, Honolulu, Hawaii, assignors to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Dec. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 690,420

Int. Cl. C23f 15/00; C07c 17/40, 19/00 U.S. Cl. 260-6525 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The reaction of l,1,l-trichloroethane with aluminum is inhibited by the presence in the 1,1,l-trichl0roethane of a small amount of a dissolved pyridinecarboxaldehyde or acetylpyridine. Concentrations of the order of 001-1 gram mole per liter provide significant inhibition.

Background of the invention This invention relates to the stabilization of chlorinated solvents. More particularly, the present invention concerns the stabilization of 1,1,1-trichloroethane in the presence of metallic aluminum.

Chlorinated hydrocarbons such as tn'chloroethylene and perchloroethylene are commonly used as solvents in chemical processes, dry cleaning, and metal degreasing. Solvents of this type are subject to slow decomposition and oxidation reactions, particularly in the presence of impurities such as water, traces of acid or metal salts. Corrosion of metal surfaces in containers and process equipment and deterioration of solvent quality by formation of acidic and colored byproducts thereby become serious problems. Inhibitors such as acid scavengers and antioxidants are commonly added to these solvents in order to prevent such degradative reactions. Inhibitor concentrations are normally of the order of one percent by weight or less.

1,1,1-trichloroethane poses a particularly difiicult stabilization problem because of its unusual reactivity with certain metals, notably aluminum. Traces of metal salts, moisture, or other impurities are not needed to initiate the 1,1,l-trichlomethane-aluminum reaction, for this reaction occurs spontaneously on a freshly exposed aluminum surface with spectacular results, converting the solvent and the metal surface in a few minutes to a blackened mass of acidic, carbonaceous material and aluminum salts. Conventional acid acceptor stabilizers cannot be depended upon to inhibit the aluminum-1,1,1- trichloroethane reaction and suitable inhibitors must be discovered by independent investigation. The search has yielded few effective compounds and these show little or no obvious pattern of structure. Typical l,l,l-trichloroethane formulations contain about five percent by weight of inhibitor which is usually a combination of compounds to inhibit reaction of the solvent with a variety of metals.

Summary of the invention It has now been found that the 1,1,l-trichloroethane reaction can be substantially retarded or prevented by incorporating into 1,1,l-trichloroethane an inhibiting amount of a pyridine carbonyl compound of the formula wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical and R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl radical of 1-4 ICC carbon atoms. Such compounds may be used alone or in any combination with each other or with other nonreactive conventional inhibitors.

Detailed description Only a quantity of pyridine carbonyl compound sulficient to retard or to stop the reaction of aluminum and 1,1,1-trich1oroethane need be used. Although any significant amount will provide some inhibition, preferably about 0.01-1 gram mole per liter of l,l,l-trichloroethane is employed and about 0.021 gram mole is usually most preferred.

Pyridine carbonyl compounds as defined by the general formula set forth above were tested for inhibiting activity in elongated glass test tubes having an inside diameter of 0.8 cm. and 33 cm. in length. To each vertically disposed tube there was added 0:54 g. of essentially pure 16-32 mesh granular aluminum and a solution of the inhibitor in purified l,l,l'trichloroethane to make a total volume of test mixture of 5 ml. The closed ends of the test tubes were then immersed in an oil bath held at a temperature suflicient to maintain the 1,1,l-trichloroethane solution in each tube at a steady reflux. The results listed in the following examples indicate the minimum concentration of the inhibitor found effective to provide complete inhibition of the 1,1,1-trichloroethane-aluminum reaction for 24 hours under these conditions. Prevention of the reaction for this length of time under the described conditions indicates capacity for etfec tive inhibition for an indefinite period. Concentrations are given in gram moles per liter of total composition, this figure being convertible to weight percent by the equation (moles/liter) (mol. wt. of inhibitor) 13.46

For example, a concentration of 0.10 g. mole per liter of an inhibitor of molecular weight 134.6 is equal to 1.0 weight percent of that inhibitor.

wt. percent Effective concentration,

Example g. moles per liter Compound name 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde 3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde 2-aeetylpyridine 3-acetylpyridine 4-acetylpyridine wherein R is hydrogen or methyl and R' is hydrogen or lower alkyl.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the pyridine carbonyl compound is 0.01-1 g. mole per liter.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein R and R are both hydrogen.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein R is methyl and R is hydrogen.

5. The composition of claim 3 wherein the pyridine carbonyl compound is Z-pyridinecarboxaldehyde.

6. The composition of claim 3 wherein the pyridine carbonyl compound is 3-pyridinecarboxaldehyde.

7. The composition of claim 3 wherein the pyridine carbonyl compound is 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde.

8. The composition of claim 4 wherein the pyridine carbonyl compound is 2-acetylpyridine.

4 9. The composition of claim 4 wherein the pyridine carbonyl compound is 3-acetylpyridine.

10. The composition of claim 4 wherein the pyridine carbonyl compound is 4-acetylpyridine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,227,766 1/1966 Kruse 260652.5

10 LEON ZITVER, Primary Examiner.

MATTHEW M. JACOB, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 252-153 

